I'm Back, and I've Brought Gifts

For now the cable grid seems to be working again. Yesterday calling Time/Warner yielded a message along the lines of, "The ice storm in Ashtabula (??) is still causing disruptions in service. There is no need to speak to a customer service representative about this as we are working hard to restore service."

Thanks to losing the day I have an unusually full plate today. Here's a couple things to munch on while I'm gone.

The Carnival of Politics is up. I've just started sampling the links. Thanks to Lisa Renee who agreed to compile yesterday so that we could capture Crucial Tuesday reaction.

The Beacon posted a story yesterday about the Ohio 16 race and their early call. The story answers some questions (Stark County totals got counted last) and raises others (why would the ABJ call the race with Stark Co. counts outstanding when it makes up 60% of the population and is Schuring's geographical base.)

Speaking of, what newspaper are we talking about here:

I think [new owner] believed what he said when he bought the [paper], called it Knight Ridder’s “jewel in the crown'’ and promised to make it an incubator of innovation. But, saddled with massive debt from his misguided newspaper purchases, and facing a horrendous industry downturn/restructuring/implosion, he can do only one thing: slash and burn. It’s what he does best.

Yes, sounds like the plight of the ABJ, but it's actually the San Jose Mercury News.

Of all the Crucial Tuesday reaction I've read, this one by Jonathan Chait at TNR is the best He runs down why Hillary's strategy is a) doomed to failure and b) destructive. Here's the nub:

Clinton's path to the nomination, then, involves the following steps: kneecap an eloquent, inspiring, reform-minded young leader who happens to be the first serious African American presidential candidate (meanwhile cementing her own reputation for Nixonian ruthlessness) and then win a contested convention by persuading party elites to override the results at the polls. The plan may also involve trying to seat the Michigan and Florida delegations, after having explicitly agreed that the results would not count toward delegate totals. Oh, and her campaign has periodically hinted that some of Obama's elected delegates might break off and support her. I don't think she'd be in a position to defeat Hitler's dog in November, let alone a popular war hero.

But please click through and read the rest.

Late.